Summer or winter?

It’s tough for me to choose between summer or winter. They both have the option for comfortable clothes. I live near many beautiful beaches but also have a pool in my backyard. And to top it off, my birthday is in winter.

What is your favourite song and why?

Shake it off by Taylor Swift. It’s just so catchy, I always have to sing it and if I feel like it I will also do a little dance. I feel that I should also mention that this is ‘our song’ and by our song, I mean mine and Harley’s song. Harley is my dog. On quite a few occasions we have danced to it together.

What does your perfect day look like?

My perfect day starts with me waking up naturally. The day is sunny, the temperature is about 25 degrees. I have pancakes with banana and strawberries for breakfast and wash it down with a coffee. I potter around in the garden for way too long. Then go out for a walk with the family after lunch. The rest of the day is spent running around after my toddler, helping her play. After dinner, my husband and I watch a movie in bed.

What advice would you give to your 10-year-old self?

Put some effort in. Things go pretty good for you to just coast through for a while, imagine what you can acheive if you actually put in some effort.

Would you rather visit your past self or future self and why?

I think I’d prefer my future self. I’d love to know what I’m doing with myself in 10, 20 or even 30 years time. Plus, you can’t change the past.

What makes you smile?

The silly things that my daughter does makes me smile. She reminds me of my self so much sometimes.

What is your go-to meal?

My go-to meal when I’m at home and hungry is two-minute noodles. I like to throw in a handful of frozen vegetables or a tin of tuna. I’ve also been known to add sweet chilli sauce or peanut butter, I love satay.

What is the best piece of blogging advice you have received?

Don’t worry about perfect. If you keep waiting to do things until they are perfect you will never do it.

Are you happy?

Today? Yes.

What is your favourite quote?

My favourite quote that I try to love my life by is “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there” by Lewis Carroll. This is actually from Alice in Wonderland, the Cheshire cat says it to Alice when she reaches a fork in the road.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

I’ve had a few challenges, both physical and mental. The most physically challenging thing I have experienced was completing a 35km charity walk. The biggest mental challenge has been Postnatal Depression.

I have to admit, fall favourites does sound a lot better than autumn favourites. But in the spirit of being true to myself, I’m going to stick with calling it autumn, my beloved autumn.

Autumn is actually my favourite season. I just love the colours. Especially at the start of the season, when parts of the trees just burst into different colours.

I was also lucky enough to be in the US during the fall. I tasted almost everything pumpkin flavoured that I came across. At one stage I think I almost turned into a Pumpkin Spice Latte, I had that many! One of the best things was pumpkin pie, I got a takeaway slice at a restaurant the night before Thanksgiving. I ate it for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning.

On that trip, I was also fortunate enough to visit New York City. Strolling through Central Park on a crisp day is something I will never forget. One of the photos that I took there is still my personal Facebook cover photo.

As the weather gets cooler, different clothes come out of hiding. I start wearing socks to bed and sleep under an extra blanket. We often start using the heater in the house again. I also use heat packs or hot water bottles to warm up my toes if they need it. Autumn also means my scarves come out from their hiding place. My favourite scarf is a large grey pashmina, grey goes with absolutely everything.

The mornings are foggy and sometimes the day remains misty. The dew that gathers on the plants amazes me, sometimes it hangs suspended in time. I’ve also recently enjoyed planting winter crops in my garden. I had tremendous success with peas last year, so I have planted them again this year. There is something about the shape of the leaves and flowers of the peas that I love.

Working in the accounting industry for 9 years, I learned really quickly when the busiest time of the year is. No one dared apply for leave during the month of July. I had to learn how to survive a season of chaos, and fast.
Here are a few things I do to keep myself sane outside of work hours during those busy times.

Exercise

I know how difficult it can be to exercise regularly. It’s also probably one of the first things to go when things get stressful. Just keep it simple, go for a walk in the fresh air or float around in the local swimming pool.
But it becomes even more crucial during times of stress. I’m sure you’ve heard all about endorphins, and how the can boost your mood. Exercise is one of the ways to release endorphins.

Be Mindful

Mindfulness is not for everyone. I really struggled with it when I started. But I stuck with it and now it is much easier. I use an app called Smiling Mind, which offers guided meditations. These guided meditations walk you through exercises that you can use at any time.

Take a timeout

It is crucial to find something that you can do to really relax. For me, I like to take a bath. I light some candles and settle into a hot bath, often with a bath bomb. Sometime I will listen to a podcast or audiobook, other times I will just listen to the sounds of the house.
My husband likes to fly his drone. I suppose it’s because he has to really focus on what he is doing, blocking out everything else.

Team up

Find someone that you can team up with to share the load of house chores and cooking. It great to know that you have someone in your life that you can rely on. Even if someone can help you with just one task, its one less thing for you to worry about.

Meal plan

There are many ways that you can meal plan. You can plan before you shop, taking advantage of the sales. You can go through your pantry, fridge, and freezer, using what you have. Setting up a meal plan can take the guesswork out of dinner. For me, I usually work a week at a time but I have also planned based on the meats we have available. Don’t overlook simple meals like baked beans on toast, while not entirely nutritious, it is filling and also very affordable.

Make time

Make time for friends and family when things get tough. The support from loved ones can really make a difference. They can also help you out with all of the above.

A short weekend getaway is so important, it can do wonders for the mind, body & soul. I’m lucky enough to have family living on a farm in the country, about 3 hours drive from where I live. It’s far enough away that it can feel like a holiday yet close enough that it’s still worthwhile to just stay for one night.

Change of scenery

A different environment can make a world of difference to my mood, especially the really fresh air you only come across in the country. I often don’t realise how polluted the air is in the suburbs. When I was a kid my asthma would clear up after just a few days at the farm. And the stars! You can see so many more stars on clear night in the country.

Technology detox

There is so much to do on a farm that there isn’t much time to check your phone. When there is a moment spare we often sit in the lounge room reading magazines or books. This time I read a magazine from 1996, oh how times have changed! The television is only generally on to see the weather forecast.

Rediscover

I had the chance to rediscover childhood memories I have from the farm. IT was great to share these memories with my husband & reminisce with my Nan. When I was about 6 years old it snowed enough for us to make snowmen & throw snowballs.

Comfort zone

Even without the household chores there is still so much to do, I am certainly out of my comfort zone. There are animals to feed, gardens to explore & people to visit. Each day is jam packed, I am exhausted by dinner time & I always sleep well.

Fresh perspective

Being out of my comfort zone allows me to look at things with a fresh perspective when I return home. Sometimes you realised the things you worry about aren’t so important any more, or that the worry they cause aren’t worth your precious time. Some time away also allows me to approach obstacles from a different angle, or helps me build on other ideas.

Relax & recharge

It’s much easier to relax when staying with relatives that enjoy having company. My Nan is 89 years old but insists I relax while she does everything. Occasionally she will put me to work if I persist in trying to help. Because of her age, she insists on many meals throughout the day. We have breakfast, morning tea, lunch often with dessert, afternoon tea, dinner with dessert, then supper.

While the trip home can be tiring, the amazing week that follows a getaway is always well worth it.